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Pedants' corner

Sainsburys' horrible grammatical error

44 replies

GreatBallsofFluff · 08/02/2013 18:51

I have never posted in Pedants' Corner (and I am shitting myself that my post will contain many errors and I will be jumped on) but could not believe that this sign was on every till in my local Sainsburys:
"Your helping the environment".
It was a label about using re-useable bags. I mentioned it in a jokey way to the checkout assistant and she looked at me like I was crazy. I would not have been able to leave the shop without saying anything at all. I just can't believe that with the amount of people who work there, no one would have pointed it out

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33goingon64 · 08/02/2013 19:40

That is terrible. Possibly not as bad as referring to an 'amount' of people as opposed to the, correct, 'number' of people, but you can't win them all.

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TravelinColour · 08/02/2013 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SPBInDisguise · 08/02/2013 19:46

Yes that is pretty bad

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SPBInDisguise · 08/02/2013 19:46

SEND IN THE GRAMMER POLICE :o

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timidviper · 08/02/2013 19:49

I hope that was ironic otherwise we'll have to send in the spelling ones too!

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GreatBallsofFluff · 08/02/2013 19:50

I knew there would be something 33

I don't think it is part of the "your Sainsbury's' campaign as this sign was just advertising the bags for life. There was nothing else where 'your' was included and the sentence I was referring to is part of 3 bullet points telling people why they should be using the bags.

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NulliusInBlurba · 08/02/2013 19:54

You could just about get away with something like:
'we appreciate your helping the environment'

If that is not meant, then the responsible party needs to be taken outside and lined up against the grammar police wall of execution and made an example of. It's simply NOT acceptable.

But the company is called Sainsbury's, I believe. Not Sainsburys'.

PS, I wouldn't point that out on any other topic.

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SPBInDisguise · 08/02/2013 20:13

Timid, you missed the thread then? Op had been picked up on her spelling (which I don't agree with) and then someone leapt in and stuck up for her with the brilliant WHO ARE YOU THE GRAMMER POLICE?

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edam · 08/02/2013 20:32

Oh dear. Waitrose wouldn't make a mistake like that!

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timidviper · 09/02/2013 00:33

Thanks SPB, I did miss that one! Thought it seemed a bit odd I must look more at the pedants' threads and less at just the active ones

I scored a minor victory some years back by getting Boots to replace some of the signage due to an errant apostrophe.

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JessieMcJessie · 09/02/2013 02:33

33, nit picking about the OP's use of "amount" was cruel and totally uncalled for, especially when she said that she was anxious about being picked up on mistakes in her post. There is no comparison between the supermarket's glaring and shameful error and the subtle point about which you criticised her. Stop giving pedants a bad name.

OP, "your helping the environment" is shocking and good on you for raising it. I'd email the head office if all you got was a blank stare from the staff in the store. If things like that are allowed to stay then these hideous mistakes will just be perpetuated.

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catladycourtney1 · 09/02/2013 02:46

Ooh I'm glad I didn't see that, I would have been all aflutter. I never say anything, just chunter under my breath or point things out loudly to DP, who thinks I'm insane.

You should write a letter, OP. They might write back to tell you they're going to change it because of your letter, and from then on you can feel a lovely warm glow of pride every time you see the new, correct signs when you go shopping

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catladycourtney1 · 09/02/2013 02:48

Or, you know, an email, like Jessie said. I sometimes forget what year we're in.

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MmeLindor · 09/02/2013 02:52

'the amount of people' is commonly used in East Scotland.

Yes, OP - send Sainsbury's an email and ask them to change it.

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GreatBallsofFluff · 09/02/2013 09:41

Jessie thank you for standing up for me, but that is what this topic is all about. I made a choice between posting this thread and being ripped to threads regarding my own grammar and spelling or not posting at all. I chose the former so I should be prepared for whatever comes with it. I do appreciate your post though; thank you

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SPBInDisguise · 09/02/2013 09:55

Your helping the environment could possibly be OK
eg "Your helping the environment is appreciated"
Clumsy but acceptable I think
But "your helping the environment" on its own has to be wrong

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InMySpareTime · 09/02/2013 10:03

I'm still amused by Tesco toilet rolls, which bear the slogan "same luxury less lorries"
Either they mean "same luxury, fewer lorries", or the more likely "same 'luxury-less' lorries" as I doubt the lorries are luxurious.

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SPBInDisguise · 09/02/2013 10:08

:o I had noticed that actually on the toilet rolls but hadn't thought of the alternative meaning
I know less and fewer are often mixed up and I do understand why, but surely "less lorries" just sounds wrong anyway, doesn't it?

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MardyBraWouldDoEddieRedmayne · 09/02/2013 10:15

I agree with Jessie.

In fact, I'd much rather had a section to discuss language rather than nitpick about pedantry. If the historians can get their own section and all that...

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LeeCoakley · 09/02/2013 10:31

I hate Boots. It was founded by Jessie Boot so it should be Boot's. Annoys me. A. Lot.

Op - companies want to hear from you if they have made an error. They come up with lovely excuses why it happened and thank you profusely for pointing it out.

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SPBInDisguise · 09/02/2013 10:33

Well Sainsbury's is now just Sainsburys (just the name of the shop, like "Asda") so maybe Boots did the same

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GreatBallsofFluff · 09/02/2013 10:39

I will be stopping in there today (I am a shop as needed person rather than weekly as it is on my doorstep) so if the signs are still there then I shall compose an email to the store. If anyone has any suggestions as to what to say then they would be most welcome.

Just for certainty, that sentence was on its own, as its own sentence on a bullet point.

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SPBInDisguise · 09/02/2013 10:41

Deer Mister Sainsberry
You're speeling is awfful
Luv GreatBalls

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LeeCoakley · 09/02/2013 10:42

When did that happen? It's still Sainsbury's on the website.

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SPBInDisguise · 09/02/2013 10:43

Really?? Maybe I completely made it up then. I'm sure I remember reading about it on here.
Apologies

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